8. Personal Development

There is nothing quite like being on your own in a foreign country. You might find that studying abroad really brings out your independent nature. Students who study abroad become explorers of their new nation and really discover the curiosity and excitement that they harbor.

A benefit to studying abroad is the opportunity to discover yourself while gaining an understanding of a different culture. Being in a new place by yourself can be overwhelming at times, and it tests your ability to adapt to diverse situations while being able to problem solve.

9. Graduate School Admissions

Like future employers, graduate school admissions boards look very highly on study abroad experiences. Students that study abroad display diversity and show that they aren’t afraid to seek out new challenges or put themselves in difficult situations.

Most importantly, students who have studied abroad show just how committed they are to their education. Graduate schools regularly look for candidates who will bring a unique aspect to their university. Students who have studied abroad have shown that they have the curiosity and educational acumen to be a leader in graduate school.

10. Life Experience

Why study abroad? For most students, this time may be the only opportunity they ever get to travel abroad for a long period of time. Eventually you will find a job and career, and the opportunity to study abroad may turn out to be a once in a life time opportunity.

Take this opportunity to travel the world with no commitments but to study and learn about new cultures. Studying abroad is an experience unlike any other.

Writing. Choose and write an essay on theme:

“Advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad”.

Module 2 Unit 13

Jobs. My Future Profession.

Grammar

The Second, The Third Conditionals.

Second Conditional

Use:        The second conditional structure is used to talk about imaginary situations and the consequences.                  Example: If I had a car, I could visit my friend.                 (But the truth is, I do not have a car, and I cannot visit my friend).            

The second conditional structure is also used to talk about imaginary abilities and the consequences.                  Example: If I could fly, I wouldn’t need a car.                 (But the truth is, I cannot fly, and so I need a car.)

 

Form: 1)  Make the second conditional in this way.

If

I you he she...

past simple

,

I you he she...

would / wouldn’t ‘d could / couldn’t

verb (infinitive form)

Example:             If we had more money, we would buy that house.

Or

I you he she...

would / wouldn’t ‘d could / couldn’t

verb (infinitive form)

if

I you he she...

past simple

Example:             She’d be more successful if she worked harder.

2)  The verb to be can use were for all subjects. This is particularly true in the sentence: If I were you… If I were you, I’d buy a bicycle.  

However, this rule is often overlooked. If he were more careful, he wouldn’t break everything.  => If he was more careful, he wouldn’t break everything.

3)  To talk about imaginary abilities, use could.

If

I you he she...

could + verb (infinitive)

,

I you he she...

would / wouldn’t ‘d

verb (infinitive form)

Example:             If I could help you, I would!

4)  Notice that the infinitive verb after the modal verbs is not necessary if the meaning is clear. Don’t contract modal verbs when there is no infinitive verb present.

If I could pay, I’d...   =>   If I could pay, I would...

Common errors: 1) Many students write would after If If I would have a lot of money, I would buy that car!         =>           If I had a lot of money, I would buy that car!       

2) Many students forget to use could to talk about abilities.                 If I played the drums, I’d join a band. =>           If I could play the drums, I’d join a band.              

Third Conditional

Use:        Use the third conditional to talk about past events. Use it to describe what could have happened (event ‘b’) as a result of something else (event ‘a’). However, neither event a nor event b happened. Therefore the third conditional describes hypothetical, imaginary situations.

If I had been at home yesterday, I’d have got your phone call. (But, I was not at home, and I didn’t receive your call.)

The third conditional is often used to criticise:                 If you had worked harder, you wouldn’t have failed the test.                 (But you didn’t work hard and you failed the test). Or it can be used to express regret:                 If I hadn’t spent all my money, I could’ve bought a computer.                 (But I spend all my money and I couldn’t buy a computer). Or it can be used to express relief:                 If I we’d taken that route, we’d have been stuck in the traffic jam for hours!                 (But we didn’t take that route, and we didn’t get stuck)

Form: a) Make the third conditional structure this way:

If	past perfect (had + past participle) (hadn’t + past participle)	,	would have would’ve ‘d have wouldn’t have	past participle
EVENT A			EVENT B

If you’d told me that Anna had put on weight, I wouldn’t have congratulated her on becoming pregnant.

Or:

I / you / he / she / we / it / they	would have would’ve ‘d have wouldn’t have		past participle		if	past perfect (had + past participle) (hadn’t + past participle)
EVENT B		EVENT A

Jim wouldn’t have made those mistakes if you had trained him properly.

b) You can also use may have / may not have, might have / might not have orcould have / couldn’t have to describe less certain possibilities rather than certain consequences. You  might have had an accident if you’d driven home in the snow last night.

c) Sometimes the if clause is implied but not spoken.                 ‘I’d have helped.’ means  ‘I’d have helped if you’d asked me.’                 ‘I wouldn’t have said that.’ means  ‘I wouldn’t have said that if I’d been there.’

Common Mistakes Some students write would after if. Would does not go in the If clause, it goes in the other clause. If I would have seen Sally, I’d have told her the news.  →               If I had seen Sally, I’d have told her the news.

Mixed Conditionals

Use:        Mixed conditional sentences combine two different conditional patterns.  Several patterns can be used:

• mixed first conditional sentences

First conditional sentences can use a variety of modal verbs. If + present simple, can / may / might / will / should + verb (infinitive) If you give me some money, I can buy some milk. If I finish my homework, may I go out with my friends? If you switch the photocopier off and on again, it should work.

First conditional sentences can also use going to, as well as will. If + present simple, going to + verb (infinitive) If you don’t get ready soon, we’re going to be late!

The present continuous and going to can also appear in the If clause If you’re going to the shop, can you buy me some cola? If you’re going to pay him, make sure you get a receipt.

The present perfect may also appear in the If clause. If you’ve finished your work, you can go home.

• mixed third / second conditional

This combination describes an imagined event in the past and the present result.  If + past perfect, would + verb (infinitive) If he'd taken the medicine, he wouldn't still be sick. He wouldn’t still be sick if he’d taken the medicine.

• mixed second / third conditional

This combination describes a situation which is never true, and the past consequence of this situation. If + past simple, would have + verb (infinitive) If you were better at speaking in public, the presentation would have been more successful. The presentation would have been more successful if you were better at speaking in public.

Exercises

1. Complete these sentences:

Example: If Sally lived in Brighton, she would be (she/be) near her parents.

Fred would read more, if he didn’t (he/not/work) so hard.

1. If Elizabeth didn’t have to work in the evenings, _________ (she/go) to concerts.

2. Susan wouldn’t go to work by car if _____ (she/live) near a train station.

3. If Peter didn’t live in a flat, ____ (he/have) a dog.

4. Pam wouldn’t definitely learn French if ____ (she/get) a job in France.

1. Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type III) by putting the verbs into the correct form. Use conditional II with would in the main clause.

• If you (study)   for the test, you (pass)   it.

• If you (ask)   me, I (help)   you.

• If we (go)   to the cinema, we (see)   my friend Jacob.

• If you (speak)   English, she (understand)  .

• If they (listen)   to me, we (be)   home earlier.

• I (write)   you a postcard if I (have)   your address.

• If I (not / break)   my leg, I (take part)   in the contest.

• If it (not/ start)   to rain, we (walk)   to the museum.

• We (swim)   in the sea if there (not / be)   so many sharks there.

• If she (take)   the bus, she (not / arrive)   on time.

c) Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets.

In case you   (buy) a car, will you teach me to drive?

If I   (not be) in a hurry, I wouldn't have made so many mistakes.

She won't finish it on time if she   (not start) right now.

She   (get angry) if you had told her.

On condition that they   (support) our product, they would get a discount.

Even if I   (ask) him, he won't come.

Had I driven slowly, I   (not crash)

It will be a disaster unless they   (help) us.

If you   (have) something to eat, you wouldn't have felt sick.

I wouldn't risk it if I   (be) you.

She would get fat if she   (not stop) eating.

The chicken wasn't good. It   (taste) better if you had put some spices on it.

Listening

Listen to three people. They are describing their jobs.

Which speaker (A, B or C) is a midwife (a nurse who delivers babies), a farmer, a guitarist?

1

2

3

2. Listen again and note which speaker …

1. has a very stressful job.

2. has never had a day off through illness.

3. works nights.

4. dropped out of school.

5. gets up very early.

6. has made loads of money.

7. works outdoors.

8. works long hours.

Lexis

Replace the underlined words or phrases in these sentences with appropriate italic words:

time on my hands gives a hand hands on the other hand second-hand

a) I don’t think it’s a good idea to buy a used car – they always break down.

b) I’m the kind of person who likes to be busy all the time I get bored if I have too much spare time.

c) I don’t like it when someone gives me a baby to hold- I don’t know what to do!

d) I love going to the city for shopping. But I’m very happy I live in the country.

e) My father rarely helps with the housework.

Reading:

Which jobs do you think there will be more of in the future? Why?

a health care workers

b computer programming

c farming

Which jobs do you think there will be fewer of in the future? Why?

a delivering post

b forestry work

c teaching

My Future Profession (Business Economics) 

There are many interesting and useful professions and it is really not an easy task to choose the right one.

I began to think about my future profession at the age of 15. My favourite subjects at school were mathematics and English. My teachers were well-educated people with broad outlook and deep knowledge of the subjects. They encouraged me in my desire to become an economist. Now I know well what I'm going to do after leaving school. I didn't make a blind choice. It was not a sudden flash either. I opted for a career in business economics. I came to this decision little by little. It was my father who aroused my interest in that field. You see, he is a chief economist at a large plant and I often saw him work at home and discuss business matters with his colleagues. Later I got interested in the matter.

Economics is the science of making choices, which is based upon the facts of our everyday life. Economists study our everyday life and the system, which affects it. They try to describe the facts of the economy in which we live and to explain how the system works. The science of economics is concerned with all our material needs and wants.

To become a good specialist in economic matters and business one must know many sciences, such as business economics, finance and credits, statistics, history of economic theory and philosophy, mathematics, as well as economic management, trade business and, of course, marketing, which is a modern philosophy of business.

It is very important for a specialist in business matters to be a skilful user of computers and to speak at least one foreign language. It should better be English as it is the most popular language of international business communication. You'll be able to follow business developments in the world by listening to radio and TV news, by reading newspapers or magazines, or by getting in contact with your business partners abroad.

If I pass my entrance exams successfully and enter the University I'll try to study to the best of my abilities to achieve my life's ambition and to justify the hopes of my parents. I also hope that I'll never regret my choice and get a well-paid and interesting job afterwards.

Maybe I should consider a job in a world of banking. There's a surprisingly wide range to choose from, in the financial world. For example, I could work for a big international company, run my own company, write about economics as a financial journalist, run my own International Business Research Agency, raise money for charities or just sell famous paintings...  

Questions:

1. When did you start to think about your future profession? 2. What professions do you like best of all? 3. Who helped you to make your choice? 4. What do you know about your future profession? 5. What are your parents 'professions ? 6. What do you know about them? 7. Have you got any traditional professions in your family? 8. Is your future profession interesting and modern?